Mentoring Sessions

Three months after moving to Nashville in 1976 he got his first writers deal with Warner Bros Music. Four months after that he signed a recording contract with CBS. (Columbia). On the second anniversary of his arrival in Nashville, RC received his first No. 1 record, Ronnie Milsap's "Only One      Love In My Life.” 
  
RC's  other No. 1 records are Barbara Mandrell's "One of a Kind, Pair of Fools," and Steve Azar's "(I Don’t Have To Be) Me Til Monday." Other artists he has written hits for include Bobby Bare, Roy Head, Hank Thompson, Charlie McClain, and Louise Mandrell. His song "Loveless Motel," which he wrote and sang, can be heard in the popular movie "The Outsiders." 
 
In 1995 RC met Larry Stewart, lead singer for Restless Heart. Besides playing a lot of golf and writing a lot of songs, they wrote a Top 40 hit for Larry "Why Can't You." Later, RC found a new act in a bar outside of Houston in Katy, Texas, while searching for talent for RCA. His name was Doug Supernaw.who went on to have two #1 records.
 
From 1974 until 1985, when he decided to focus on writing and producing, RC was a recording artist for Capitol, Columbia, and RCA. In the early '80s, he was the music coordinator/producer for "Mandrell Sisters TV Show" on NBC. His other television work includes writing material for Bob Hope's Television Special and Red Skelton's Television Special. 
 
RC recently received the prestigious "2-Million Air Play" award from BMI for "(I Don’t Have To Be Me) Til Monday." Throughout his career he has received various awards, including an Academy of Country Music Award.

His love for cars and golf led him to hosting duties for two television shows ("Performance Plus" and "Tee It Up") on The Nashville Network and ESPN. RC lives in Nashville with his wife Natalie and dog Tex. He is still writing country music. READ MORE

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Hometown: Luttrell, Tennessee 

 

How long have you been in Nashville? 22 years  

 

 

Greatest successes in songwriting? My “greatest successes” would definitely be the great friends I have made while living in Nashville, but if you’re asking about songs specifically, it would be having songs recorded by, Kenny Cheney, Randy Houser, Vince Gill, Diamond Rio, Amy Grant, The Blind Boys of Alabama, Jamey Johnson.

 

What is your specialty? Probably lyrics

 

 

 

 

What do you want to be when you grow up? Alive, a son, a brother, and a friend.

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Singer/songwriter Benita Hill has had her songs recorded in nearly all genres of music-country, rock, pop, jazz, gospel, Broadway and musical theater. As a recording artist, she has released seven CDs of her original music to outstanding critical reviews. She has toured as a background singer with the Allman Brothers, J.J.Cale, Conway Twitty and many others. Hers is the voice of  "Santa Baby" for the international Jaguar Automobiles television commercial. Her songs have been recorded by Isaac Hayes, Crystal Gayle, Kirk Whalum and Garth Brooks, including the two  number one hits "It's Your Song" and  "Two Pina Coladas"; and a song she co-wrote with Garth titled "Weekend" which appears on his 2016 platinum-selling album "Gunslinger" as well as his multi-platinum selling boxed set "The Ultimate Collection".

 

Benita's self-produced documentary, "The Healing Power Of A Song" has been broadcast on public television and on the Blue Highways cable television network. Her recent work includes co-writing six songs for the international movie musical "Cooking For Two" which premiered in Hong Kong and has been touring the international film festival circuit ; her newest album of original, modern torch songs called NOIR establishes her range as a modern and timeless songwriter and artist of depth, humor and insight. 

Benita is passionate about yoga and healthy eating. As a certified yoga instructor, she has taught a popular class at the YMCA; and her recipes were included in Trisha Yearwood's New York Times number-one best selling cookbook, Trisha's Table. She also enjoys meeting aspiring songwriters through her work as a mentor at the Nashville Songwriters Association International.

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ELIZABETH ELKINS

Elizabeth Elkins is a professional songwriter who has written for BMG Nashville and EMI. She has a Top 30 Billboard Country song, and a Top 15 Billboard Canadian Country hit. She has more than 50 cuts, including Billy Currington, Kira Isabella, Aaron Goodvin and Ruby Boots. Her rock songs have appeared in over 50 television programs from ABC to the CW, MTV to FX. 

She is half of the alt-country duo Granville Automatic, whose recent album Radio Hymns was praised by USA Today, the New York Times, the Washington Post, American Songwriter, No Depression and The Bitter Southerner. With the band, she was a Composer in Residence at the Seaside Institute and has toured internationally, often doing more than 100 shows a year. She was also a founding member of the all-girl band Farewell Angelina, a five-year journey that included a record deal and a country radio tour.

She has a Bachelor’s degree in English and History from Emory University and a Master’s in Mass Communication from the University of Georgia. In previous lives, she was a Marketing Director, magazine editor and punk rock frontperson. She served on the Atlanta Board of the Recording Academy and is the Vice President of the Board of Historic Nashville, Inc. Her other passions include horses, architecture, city planning, the First World War, travel and performing.